Netflix Set to Come to Android Devices Via Qualcomm Chip

Thanks to new chips built by Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), future Android-powered devices will have the ability to instantly stream TV shows and movies from Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX).

San Diego-based Qualcomm said Android wireless devices powered by its Snapdragon processors will be able to more easily pass through the approval process required for Netflix certification.

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“Qualcomm is in a unique position to help bring the most optimized and advanced Android apps to market through working closely with the strong ecosystem of Snapdragon developers like Netflix,” said Liat Ben-Zur, senior director of software strategy and ecosystems for Qualcomm.

Qualcomm said it plans to demonstrate the Netflix application at the GSMA’s Mobile World Congress in the company’s exhibit. Android is the mobile operating service developed by Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and runs on devices from Verizon (NYSE:VZ), Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) and other providers.

Shares of Qualcomm climbed 1.46% to $58.49 Monday morning, extending its 2011 gain to just over 16%. Netflix continued to surge, leaping another 5.7% to $244.23 to give it a year-to-date gain of 31.5%.

Users of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) wildly popular iPhone device already have the capability to stream Netflix video.